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4.47k reviews for:
Unbroken (Movie Tie-in Edition): A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption
Laura Hillenbrand, Laura Hillenbrand
4.43 AVERAGE
4.47k reviews for:
Unbroken (Movie Tie-in Edition): A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption
Laura Hillenbrand, Laura Hillenbrand
4.43 AVERAGE
This was the first book I ever cried in. It's very heavy and an emotional journey but it's 100% worth the read.
The book is incredibly well written. I cared about the characters and learned a lot about WWII in the Pacific. However, it is a very moving book about horrible things. I had to wait a few days before writing a review or discussing it, so I could separate my sadness over the subject matter from my opinion of the book.
I think we should all read books like this from time to time, and I would recommend reading this one. Just don't be fooled by the title. This book is far more about war and survival than resilience and redemption.
I think we should all read books like this from time to time, and I would recommend reading this one. Just don't be fooled by the title. This book is far more about war and survival than resilience and redemption.
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
This book is so well-written. I didn't know much about it before I started it, but the author's writing style is fast-paced and engaging.
disturbing. horrifying violence. I am awed by the resilience of the men who survived Japanese POW camps. I don't believe I would fight as hard as they did to live. I enjoyed the epilogue wrap up of how the former POWs' life's continued after their release.
How he could have survived all of this and still kept going is beyond me. I thoroughly enjoyed this biography. Well written about a fascinating spirit.
This book has been sitting on my shelf for a long time and I'm glad I finally dove in for my 2019 Epic 52 Book Challenge. This one covers the category Narrative Nonfiction. As hard as this book was to read, it was one that I had a hard time putting down as well. Hillenbrand's style of writing is so readable and I felt like I was sitting next to her, or to her subject, Louie Zamperini (1936 track Olympian, POW, and WWII vet), hearing the story.
This book gave me a side to the stories of Pacific POWs that I never knew, of whom there were thousands and thousands. I knew that the experience was awful and I knew that the Japanese during this time period operated with a very vicious, uncivil, win-at-all-costs mindset. But I never heard such a personal story as this. Hillenbrand went into much detail about Louie Zamperini's life before and after the war as well, showing how the POW experience changes and shapes people.
I read a negative review of the movie, "Unbroken", directed by Angelina Jolie. I haven't seen the movie, but this reviewer took Jolie to task, saying something along the lines of "Why make a movie about someone just because they competed in the Olympics?" My answer to that is why not? Being an Olympic athlete is a monumental feat and I'm sure Louie's training and dedication to his sport helped him survive in Japan. I wonder if that reviewer read the book, or even knew it was based on a book written from meticulous research over the course of 7 years?! I'm grateful to Louie Zamperini and all of the other POWs who suffered on our behalf and to Laura Hillenbrand for giving so much to bring his story to us.
This book gave me a side to the stories of Pacific POWs that I never knew, of whom there were thousands and thousands. I knew that the experience was awful and I knew that the Japanese during this time period operated with a very vicious, uncivil, win-at-all-costs mindset. But I never heard such a personal story as this. Hillenbrand went into much detail about Louie Zamperini's life before and after the war as well, showing how the POW experience changes and shapes people.
I read a negative review of the movie, "Unbroken", directed by Angelina Jolie. I haven't seen the movie, but this reviewer took Jolie to task, saying something along the lines of "Why make a movie about someone just because they competed in the Olympics?" My answer to that is why not? Being an Olympic athlete is a monumental feat and I'm sure Louie's training and dedication to his sport helped him survive in Japan. I wonder if that reviewer read the book, or even knew it was based on a book written from meticulous research over the course of 7 years?! I'm grateful to Louie Zamperini and all of the other POWs who suffered on our behalf and to Laura Hillenbrand for giving so much to bring his story to us.
The life of Louie Zamperini is one of those stories that has, quite unfortunately, been forgotten by many in the years since World War II. Or perhaps it’s just me. I’ve never heard of the guy until seeing this book on the shelf and becoming immediately caught up in the dust jacket’s promise of a great biographical tale centered around one of my favorite periods in modern history. And Laura Hillenbrand delivers on that promise in a big way.
Zamperini was a Californian runner who was poised to be the first American to break the elite four minute mile mark. Nobody could stop him. At least not until World War II broke out and he became a B-24 bombardier in the Army Air Corps. After a very successful, and very lucky, years worth of missions, Zamperini and his best friend and pilot Allan Phillips board a different B-24 to help locate a downed bomber crew over the Pacific Ocean and wind up going down themselves. Lost at sea in a raft with no provisions for more than month would seem like enough hell. But then the Japanese find him and redefine “hell” entirely.
The best writers in Hollywood couldn’t come up with a story better than what Hillenbrand crafts in this book. And the kicker? It’s 100% true. She spent several years working directly with Zamp and his family and friends and fellow POWs and their captors and other military officials and historians to pump as much accuracy into this story as possible and it makes for an amazing read. Whether you’re a fan of WWII history or not, you’ll be amazed by this story. Highly recommended.
Zamperini was a Californian runner who was poised to be the first American to break the elite four minute mile mark. Nobody could stop him. At least not until World War II broke out and he became a B-24 bombardier in the Army Air Corps. After a very successful, and very lucky, years worth of missions, Zamperini and his best friend and pilot Allan Phillips board a different B-24 to help locate a downed bomber crew over the Pacific Ocean and wind up going down themselves. Lost at sea in a raft with no provisions for more than month would seem like enough hell. But then the Japanese find him and redefine “hell” entirely.
The best writers in Hollywood couldn’t come up with a story better than what Hillenbrand crafts in this book. And the kicker? It’s 100% true. She spent several years working directly with Zamp and his family and friends and fellow POWs and their captors and other military officials and historians to pump as much accuracy into this story as possible and it makes for an amazing read. Whether you’re a fan of WWII history or not, you’ll be amazed by this story. Highly recommended.
First off, this book did NOT make me forget about death. It did the exact opposite of that.
Not something I would ever pick up on my own, but it taught me an awful lot about: 1. World War II on the Pacific front 2. How to escape a shark attack 3. Running 4. Flying bombers 5. The ability of the human spirit to survive against all odds.
When the U.S. is at war with another country, citizens start to think of everyone in that country as our enemy. This has always made me cringe. But now I understand how hard it would be (as a soldier) to see people as individuals and not as a larger-than-life, across-the-board, unstoppable enemy.
Favorite Quotes
The first thing people tended to notice about Phillips was that they hadn't noticed him earlier.
It was awful, awful, awful...If you dig into it, it comes back to you. That's the way war is.
Louie never left himself a moment to think of the war. "I just thought I was empty and now I'm being filled."
Not something I would ever pick up on my own, but it taught me an awful lot about: 1. World War II on the Pacific front 2. How to escape a shark attack 3. Running 4. Flying bombers 5. The ability of the human spirit to survive against all odds.
When the U.S. is at war with another country, citizens start to think of everyone in that country as our enemy. This has always made me cringe. But now I understand how hard it would be (as a soldier) to see people as individuals and not as a larger-than-life, across-the-board, unstoppable enemy.
Favorite Quotes
The first thing people tended to notice about Phillips was that they hadn't noticed him earlier.
It was awful, awful, awful...If you dig into it, it comes back to you. That's the way war is.
Louie never left himself a moment to think of the war. "I just thought I was empty and now I'm being filled."
Amazing...well written, engaging and inspiring from beginning to end